Quality of life assessments in clinical practice using either the EORTC-QLQ-C30 or the SEIOQL-DW: a randomized study.

Background: Effective patient-physician communication can improve patient understanding, agreement on treatment and adherence. This may, in turn, impact on clinical outcomes and patient quality of life (QoL). One way to improve communication is by using patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs).

Comparison of two instruments for measurement of quality of life in clinical practice--a qualitative study.

Background: The study aimed to investigate the meaning patients assign to two measures of quality of life: the Schedule for Evaluation of Individual Quality of Life Direct Weighting (SEIQoL-DW) and the SEIQoL-DW Disease Related (DR) version, in a clinical oncology setting. Even though the use of quality of life assessments has increased during the past decades, uncertainty regarding how to choose the most suitable measure remains. SEIQoL-DW versions assesses the individual's perception of his or her present quality of life by allowing the individual to nominate the domains to be evaluated followed by a weighting procedure resulting in qualitative (domains) as well as quantitative outcomes (index score).

Barriers against psychosocial communication: oncologists' perceptions.

Purpose: To explore oncologists' psychosocial attitudes and beliefs and their perceptions regarding barriers against psychosocial communication.

Methods: A questionnaire was distributed to oncologists in Sweden (n = 537). Questions covered demography, the Physician Psychosocial Beliefs Scale (PPBS), and barriers against psychosocial communication.

Transfer of data or re-creation of knowledge - experiences of a shared electronic patient medical records system.

Background: A shared electronic medical record (EMR) can improve communication between primary and secondary care. A consideration of the contents using Data-Information-Knowledge-Wisdom (DIKW) hierarchy could help inform further development of such systems regarding communication about prescribed medication.

Objectives: To investigate primary and secondary care doctors' experiences of the shared EMR in Uppsala, Sweden, focusing on the creation, use and cross-sector transfer of data, information, knowledge and wisdom about individual patients' prescribed medication.

Complementary or alternative? Patterns of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use among Finnish children.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to measure patterns of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) use among Finnish children and to explore whether CAM use among children is mainly complementary or alternative.

Methods: We carried out a cross-sectional population-based survey in spring 2007. The study population consisted of a representative sample (n = 6,000) of Finnish children under 12 years of age.

Different perspectives on communication quality and emotional functioning during routine oncology consultations.

Objective: To determine quality of communication in routine oncology consultations from patient, physician, and observer perspectives, and to determine agreement of emotional function content in consultations from these three perspectives.

Methods: In total, 69 consultations were included. Perceived quality of communication and whether or not emotional functioning had been discussed was evaluated with patient- and physician-reported questionnaires.